More than 100 people, mostly children and young adults, have fallen ill with Hepatitis A in Desujodha village in Haryana's Sirsa district, with contaminated drinking water suspected to be behind the outbreak. Two young women are in critical condition and undergoing treatment on ventilators. They have been identified as 21-year-old Prabhjot, daughter of Malkit Singh, and 18-year-old Preet Kaur, daughter of Kuldeep Singh. Prabhjot is being treated at AIIMS Bathinda, while Preet Kaur has been admitted to DMC Ludhiana. Several other patients, including Jasmeet Kaur, Harpreet Kaur, Gopi, Manpreet Kaur, Rajkaran and Gurnoor, are receiving treatment at hospitals in Sirsa, Dabwali, Bathinda, Ludhiana and Rama Mandi.
Pipeline leakage suspected
Village sarpanch Charanjit Singh and other residents alleged that contaminated water was supplied from the village waterworks after leaks developed in newly laid pipelines. Work to replace old drinking water pipelines is currently underway in the village. Residents claimed that leakages during the work allowed contaminants to enter the water being supplied to households.
The number of people falling ill increased gradually over the past week. Medical examinations subsequently indicated that several patients had contracted Hepatitis A, triggering concern among residents. Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection that is commonly transmitted through contaminated food or water.
216 suspected cases identified
The health department has collected samples from 540 people in the village over the past five days. Of these, 216 have been identified as suspected cases, while 45 patients have been admitted to hospitals. Among the 45 hospitalised patients, two are children aged up to five years, 26 are aged up to 18 years and 17 are aged up to 60 years. The hospitalised patients comprise 30 males and 15 females.
Villagers stage protest
As the number of cases increased, residents staged a protest demanding immediate measures to ensure the supply of clean drinking water. A district administration team visited Desujodha on Saturday to assess the situation. The team included Public Health Department Executive Engineer Vijay Kumar, Dabwali Tehsildar Sunil Kumar, Chief Medical Officer Pawan Kumar and Dabwali SMO Sudeep Goyal. Officials assured residents that clean drinking water would be provided, health services in the village would be strengthened and the administration would bear the treatment expenses of affected patients. Following the assurances, the villagers called off their protest.
Doctors deployed, door-to-door checks underway
CMO Pawan Kumar said four doctors, along with other medical personnel, have been deployed in the village and an ambulance has also been stationed there. Health teams are conducting door-to-door examinations, while a special testing camp has been organised for suspected patients. Kumar confirmed that Hepatitis A had been detected among patients and said those affected were undergoing treatment at various hospitals. Residents have been advised to boil drinking water before consumption and maintain proper hygiene to reduce the risk of further infections.
Pipeline work to be completed in 10 days
Public Health Department SDO Vishal Jiyani said work to replace the village's old drinking water pipelines was in progress and was expected to be completed within 10 days. He said contaminated water was suspected to be behind the outbreak and repair work was being undertaken wherever leaks had been detected in the pipeline network.